“Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One” is a concept album detailing the career trajectory of a band—from their humble beginnings to their signing to their success to their downfall. For thematic consistency, let’s call this band The Contenders.
This song starts with the narrator sing...
[Verse 1]
Hush little mammy don't you cry
Got to see what it's like on the world outside
Got to get out of this life somehow
Got to be free, we got to be free now
[Verse 2]
I don't want to be a constructor of highways
A sweeper of sidewalks, I got to do it my way
I'm too ill-equipped for a mathematician
A shrewd politician, a maker of petitions
[Verse 3]
We're not the greatest when when we're separated
But when we're together I think we're going to make it
I don't want to be like a fascist dictator
A saint or a sinner, I want to be a winner
The Contenders was written by Ray Davies.
The Contenders was produced by Ray Davies.
The Kinks released The Contenders on Fri Nov 27 1970.